New York-Area Law School Clinics Assist Individuals Filing Claims under the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund

The following post appears courtesy of the Access to Justice Initiative .

Approximately ten years after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, Congress passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act.  The Act reactivated the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), which operated from 2001-2003, and expanded the pool of claimants to include first responders, members of cleanup crews, and other individuals who suffered latent physical injuries due to their exposure to Ground Zero.  Sheila Birnbaum, a lifelong New Yorker with decades of experience resolving complicated litigation, was appointed Special Master of the Fund.

To ensure that the claim-filing process was accessible, transparent, and easy to navigate, the VCF established a streamlined online filing system and encouraged claimants to register and submit their claims electronically.  The site was made available in English, Spanish, Polish, and Mandarin Chinese.

But the administrators of the VCF and the Department’s Access to Justice Initiative (ATJ) knew some potential claimants might not have easy access to computers or might be uncomfortable with technology.  Those claimants, as well as people who were not proficient in English, could benefit from direct assistance, so the VCF and ATJ reached out to the New York public interest legal community.  Building on the success of the work of Lynn Kelly of the City Bar Justice Center establishing clinics for VCF claimants staffed by volunteer attorneys, David Udell of the National Center for Access to Justice at Cardozo Law School (NCAJ), suggested that law students might also be able provide similar assistance.

Working with the area law schools’ public interest coordinators, the VCF administrators, ATJ, the City Bar Justice Center, and the NCAJ, Columbia Law School and Cardozo Law School agreed to host two pilot student clinics.  VCF conducted a training at Columbia Law School for all interested student participants with the participation of DLA Piper volunteer attorneys who also attended the clinics to help supervise.

Columbia University Law School successfully hosted the first pilot clinic on March 13 and 15, 2012 in which 12 to 15 students assisted roughly 15 claimants each day.  Cardozo Law School hosted the second clinic from April 9 to 11.  Each day approximately 25 law students from Cardozo, Hofstra, Touro, and the University of Pennsylvania assisted 15 to 20 claimants in all stages of the filing process.  At both schools students worked in pairs, often with interpreters or interpreting themselves, and spent one to two hours interviewing individuals, helping them fill out the electronic forms, and uploading documents into the online system.

The result of this true community effort has been a success for everyone involved.  For some students the clinics were their first pro bono experience.  They gained valuable skills in client communication, and many found it immensely rewarding to offer tangible help to people suffering from grave illness, injury, and loss.  Frances Gottfried, Director of the New York Office of the VCF, said she was “impressed with the students’ dedication, flexibility, and enthusiasm,” and claimants at both clinics expressed their gratitude for the students’ assistance.

The City Bar Justice Center is continuing to assist those whose health or loved ones were harmed as a result of 9/11, and will host a pro bono clinic staffed by attorneys on May 7, 2012.  

More information about the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and available legal assistance can be found at http://www.vcf.gov/index.html.

Since its launch in 2010, the Access to Justice Initiative has worked to help the justice system efficiently deliver outcomes that are fair and accessible to all, irrespective of wealth and status.  The Initiative’s staff works within the Department of Justice, across federal agencies, and with state, local and tribal justice system stakeholders to increase access to counsel and legal assistance, and to improve the justice delivery systems that serve people who are unable to afford lawyers. If you would like to learn more about the Access to Justice Initiative, visit www.justice.gov/atj.

Heart Attack Victim Rescued in Flood

CBP, Cass County Sheriff ATV Team Makes Water Rescue

Fargo, N.D. —U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Cass County sheriff’s office help rescue a West Fargo man after a possible heart attack. The joint team was needed to get the patient out on an All-Terrain Vehicle.

At approximately 6 p.m. on April 22, a call came into the Tactical Operations Center in West Fargo from the Fargo-Moorhead Ambulance saying assistance was needed to evacuate a gentleman who may have had a heart attack.

Within one minute of the call, a joint CBP and Cass County sheriff ATV team was dispatched to the scene to assist with getting the victim out. Cass County Deputy Greg Dawkins, who is assigned to the ATV team, was able to navigate the team to the residence to help assist the paramedics on scene.

“From the time we got the call to the time we had our ATV’s off the trailer and down the road was less than 7 minutes,” said Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jeff Cheney. “This is another great example of how CBP is assisting the Cass County Sheriff’s office to help the people of North Dakota.”

Once on the scene, two Border Patrol agents were able to get their ATVs through the flooded streets and assist the paramedics on 16th Avenue NW. To get the victim out they had to lay the patient on the back of a CBP ATV and walk alongside the ATV while holding the victim to safely cross the flooded streets to an awaiting ambulance.

The patient was transported to the hospital where his condition is unknown.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

The Streets Ran Red

On October 2, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with US Navy veteran and Paramedic Morgan Lawrence about his career and book - The Streets Ran Red.

Program Date: October 2, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: The Streets Ran Red
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/10/03/The-Streets-Ran-Red

About the Guest
Morgan Lawrence has worked in the emergency medical services field for over twenty years in a number of states throughout our country. His experience has spanned rural and metropolitan rescue services. He is certified in air, ground, and marine rescue. He is a US Navy veteran. After a work related injury in 1986, he left the field of emergency medicine. Morgan went back to college and received Degree’s in Psychology on the Bachelors and Masters level with a concentration on forensic psychology. He is currently certified in Acute Trauma Stress Management and contributes to several trade magazines. He is currently living and working in south Florida. Morgan Lawrence is the author of The Streets Ran Red.

According to the book description of The Streets Ran Red, “These are the true life stories of the men and woman I have associated with in my twenty year career as a Paramedic. While reading this book, you will get to feel and understand some of the pressures of working the street. The Streets Ran Red is an account of the lives of a pair of deputy sheriff paramedics and the supporting cast of medical experts who helped them save lives. This is a true account of a group of special individuals who make up a very special team. The accounts described in this book actually happened and the victims were real. The names and locations have been changed at the requests of some of the characters.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. American Heroes Radio brings you to the watering hold, where it is Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/10/03/The-Streets-Ran-Red

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530